Hydraulic barber-chair.



No. 697,449. y' Patented Apr. I5, |902.,

T. J. COLLINS. HYDRAULIC BARBER CHAIR.

(Application led Dec. 30,' 1901.)

Tn: Nonms Firms co. PHoTaLn'Hu., wAsHmG-ron, o. c.

, Patented Apr. 15,1902."

T. J. coLLms.

HYDRAULIC BARBER CHAIR.

SApplication filed Dec. 30, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

mi NoRms PETERS co., PNoTo-ruo., wAsnlNoTuN. n, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.`

TIMOTHY J.- COLLINS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

HYDRAULIC BARBER-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,449, dated April 15, 1902.

d Application filed December 30, 1901. Serial. No. 87,697. (No model.) n

T0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TIMOTHY J. COLLINS, a citizen of the VUnited States, residing` at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hydraulic Barber-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a hydraulic barber-chair, and has forits objects to provide a chair of the kind with a hydraulic base,where by the chair-body may be readily raised and lowered by a pump,and that is automatically locked and mechanically su pported at any de sired height and unaffected by any leakage of the valves; further-m orc, to provide a chair of the kind the body of which is rotatable on its base and adjustable to place the oocupant in various positions, from sitting to reoumbent, with means whereby the chair will automatically be positively locked against movement in each position; furthermore, to provide a chair of the kind in which all the movements for raising and lowering and unlocking are effected by a single lever. I accomplish these objects by constructing my invention as hereinafter described, and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section through a hydraulic base constructed. in accordance with my invention and showing the lock-bar in engagement with the rack-bar to support the piston. Fig. 2 is a like view showing the position of the plunger and piston-valve to withdraw the lock-bar from engagement with the cylinder-rack to lower the piston. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the cylinder, piston, and rack-bar on the lineX X of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view of the bottom of the pistonclosure, showing the lock barl in position therein. Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the spidersupport for the chair-body. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 7 is a section through the handle on line Y Y of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a top plan viewof the piston-flange and conical bearinggfor the top, and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of thefclutch.

=In the drawings, 1 vdesigna-tes the cylinder,

- which vis formed with an enlarged bore at the Ytop. to'. provide an oil-reservoir 2, which is covered by acap 3 of adiameter to telescope over the reservoir. .The cylinder is adapted to be mounted upon a suitable base (not shown) and is secured n to the bottom of the base by means of a spider 4, adapted to prevent rotation of the cylinder in the base. The top of the cylinder is also secured to the base in a suitable manner. Within the cylinder there is mounted a tubular piston 5, provided with a plunge-barrel 6 at 'the bottom of the piston, and at the top with a radial flange 7, concentric to the conical bearing 8, which is adapted to receive the conical seat 9, formed integral with the tubular stem 10, rotatably mounted in the bore at the top of the piston. The tubular stem 10 is also provided with a radial flange 11, to which the bed-plate 12 is suitably secured. The bed-plate 12 is provided with integral radial arms 13, curved upward to a suitable distance and adapted to support a reclinable chair-body, (not shown,) which is suitably secured upon the arms. Uponr the bed-plate are formed integral vertically-proj ectin g bosses 14 and 15, respectively bored to receive lockingpins 16 and 17, which are provided, respectively, with heads 18 and 19, of a diameter to project a portion of the heads beyond the rim of the bosses. The bore through the boss 14 extends through the bed-plate llange 1l andvis adapted to be brought into vertical alinement with any one of a plurality of apertures 20, concentrically arranged and spacedeq-uidistant in the liange 7 by the rotation of the bed-plate, and the pin 16 is of a length to enter an aperture 2O and positively lock the bed-plate l2 against rotation, being spring pressed downward to such engagement. The boss 15 is formed with a transverse horizontal bore 21, intersecting at right angles the vertical bore for the locking-pin 17, and bore 21 is of a diameter to receive the rack-bar 22,to which the chairback,arms, and platform, (not shown,) suitably hinged to the chair-seat and linked together ina suitable manner, are operatively connectedby a link 23. The lockingpin 17 is prevented from rotation in the bore by forming the head with a liat plane 24,which travels along a vertical 'guiding-plane' 25, formed integral with and projecting vertically above the boss 15 at one side of the bore through the same.

The operating-shaft 26 is j ournaled in bearings 27 and 28, also integr-al with the bed-plate and adapted to support the shaft a suitable distance above the same and independent of IOO the chair-body. Upon the shaft are rigidly mounted arms 29 and 30, adapted to alternately engage the locking-piu heads 18 and 19 to unlock the bed-plate for rotation and rack-bar 22 for reclining the chair by rocking the shaft in either direction.

31 designates a crab-clutch mounted upon the shaft between the bearings and comprisinga collar32,loosely mounted upon the shaft, and provided with acrank-arm 33 and a crown incut or slot 34, adapted to receive the intermeshing tooth 35, integral with the collar 36, rigidly secured to t-he shaft 26, which has a limited longitudinal movement in the bearing to engage the slotted crank-collar 32 and remove the arms 29 and 30 from under the pin-heads 18 and 19 by pulling the shaft outward. The reverse movement of the shaft will disengage the crank-collar 32 and place the arms 29 and 30 in position to rengage with the locking-pins 29 and 30. The shaft is provided with an integral handle 37, and the position of the handle relative to the shaft for engaging or disengaging the crab-clutch is preferably vertical, and to automatically maintain the handle in the vertical position I have provided a slot 38, formed in the top of the shaft at some suitable point. The slot extends to or beyond the center of the-shaft and has a width to receive a leaf-spring bar 39,which is preferably bulbed at the terminal in the slot, and the other end of the spring is rigidly secured to the under side of the chairbody in vertical position over the slot. By rocking the shaft to operate the pump or the locks the leaf-spring is flexed and recedes from the bottom of the slot in the shaft toward the periphery the further the rocking motion is extended in the arc of a circle, and by releasing the handle at any point in the are of movement the tension of the spring will force the handle back to a vertical position. The slot 38v is elongated to permit the longitudinal movement of the shaft for the purpose hereinbefore stated. In order to maintain the slot 34, formed in the pumpcrank collar, in position for engagement by the clutch-tooth 35, there is provided a yielding locking-pin 40, which is housed in a bore 41, formed in the side of the boss 15 in alinement with the slot 34. When the crank-collar 32 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the pin 40 is urged to enter the slot 34 by a spring 42, which is interposed between the pin 40 and the bottom of the bore, whereby the crankcollar is secured against movement and held in position for rengagement by the clutch member 36, rigidly secured to the shaft.

The free end of the pin 40 is slightly rounded, and the edge of the tooth 35 is also rounded in the same manner, whereby when the handle is in the vertical position to move the shaft longitudinally to engage the crank-collar the clutch-tooth 35 will upon entrance into the slot 34 readily displace the pin 40 therefrom and crowd the pin into its bore 41, in which position the crank-arm maybe rocked to operate the pump. When the shaft is shifted to release the clutch as the tooth 35 recedes from the slot 34, the pin 40 will automatically reenter the slot 34 and hold the crank-collar in position for further engagement.

Within the barrel 6 in the base of the piston there is located a rotatable tubular plunger 43, provided with a packing 44 and a spring-pressed caged valve 45, which is vertically seatable upon the valve-seat 45', which is formed concentric around the central bore 46 for the valve-stem in the closure-plate 47, and the plate is screw-threaded to the bottom of the plunger. The plunger is operatively connected to the crank-arm 33 by means of a pitman 58, which is of suitable length and curved at the top to centrally aline the pitman with the plunger connection 49. The bottom of the piston is closed by means of a cap 50, suitably secured thereto, and the cap is provided with a central valve-port 51, at

,the base of which there is formed a concentric seat 52 for the winged check-Valve 53. The piston is also provided with a packingring 54, which is interposed between the bottom of the piston and the cap.

To the side wall of the cylinder, in parallel alinement with the movement of the piston, there is rigidly secured a bar 55 by means of rivets 56 or other suitable fastening, and in the face of the bar there are formed a pluralityof serrations or ratchet-teeth 57, extending along the length of the bar to the limit of the travel of the piston. In the wall of the piston there is formed a coincident longitudinal slot 58, having an area to snugly' receive the rack-bar, and the slot extends the full length of the piston through the packing and the bottom closure-cap and is adapted to prevent the rotation of the piston in the cylinder by engaging the rack-bar.

59 designates a movable locking-bar adapted to automatically engage the teeth of the ratchet bar to support the piston at any height in the cylinder without depending on the hydraulic pressure, which is found to be unreliable by leakage caused by wear of the packing. This leakage causes the piston to sink and lower the chair-body, which defect is wholly overcome by the use of the ratchetbar and automatic piston-locking bar. The locking-bar is secured to the under side of the piston-cap 50 by means of screw-bolts 60, which extend through the slots 6l, formed centrally in the body of the bar on opposite sides of the valve, as shown in Fig. 4. The slots extend from the bolts toward the rackbar to permit the withdrawing of the end 62 of the locking bar from the teeth of the ratchet-bar. The central portion 63 of the locking-bar between the bolts 60 is angled to permit the opening of the piston-valve 53 and the interposition of a compression-spring 64 between the piston-valve 53 and the angled central portion of the bar. From the body of the check-valve 53 extends an integral an- .lIO

gular latch-pin 65 of a'length to projectv through the central raised portion of the locking-bar and through fan aperture 66, having an area to receive the body of. the latch. Upon the farther edge of the latch relative to the ratchet-bar there is formed an inclinedf plane 67, extending fromthe end 68 toward the base of the latch. This inclined plane on the latch-pin coincides with a similar planey 69, formed in thewall of the aperture 66 inr contact with the latch, and the pitchy of the incline issuch` that the limited movement of the Valve 53 will withdraw the locking-bar from engagement with the ratchet bar by,l

forcibly projecting the latch through the aperture 66.v Upon the-.closing of the valve, which is assisted by the spring Gat, encircling the latch, the locking-bar 59` is forced into engagementvwith the teethof ratchetbar by means. of a spring 70, which is also secured to the underside ofthe piston-closure cap,'and

the spring is arrangedto project the tension-` arm 7l into the area ,ofY the angled portion and constantly press againstthe shoulder 72, formed by angling the central portion of the locking-bar.

The piston is diametrcally reduced for a` portion of its length tok form an annular space 73 between the ,pistonand cylinderwalls and is4 provided with aplurality of apertures 74, extendingthrough the wall ofthe piston for the in and out flow of liquid from the piston to or from the reservoir through the annular.

bar from the ratchet, as shown in Fig.,2, the

liquid passes fromunder the piston through the by-pass 7 7 and throughthe port 78, formed through the wall of the plunger, into the interior of the piston, thence to the reservoir.v

Thus-constructed, it is apparent that when the plunger is forceddownward throughthe piston, the liquid therein will force open the check-valve 53,thereby withdrawing the locking-bar 59 from engagement with the ratchetbar, and the liquid forced out of the piston into the cylinder will lift the piston upward. At the' beginning of the upward stroke the check-valve will close, thereby releasing the locking-bar 59, .which will be again forced by its spring into engagement with the rack-bar and hold the piston in position whilethe return stroke of the plunger is made, and so at each downward stroke of the plunger the piston will be lifted, and at the beginning of each upward stroke thev piston will belocked.

against movementl by the engagement ofthe locking-bar with the rack-bar. When it is desired to lower` the chair-body, by making a longer stroke of the lever the plunger is brought into contact withthe stem ofthe check-valve 53, therebyforcingit open and disengagin g the locking-bar from the ratchetbar.` By holding the plunger in this position `the piston will gradually sink as the liquid passes fromy the cylinder to the Apiston and from the piston through the by-pass 7 7 in the plunger. The movement may be arrestedat any point by bringing the handle of the shaft toa vertical position. Itis further apparent that the vertical groove or slot of the piston being made to fit over the rack-bar smoothly and accurately, with the sides and ends of the teeth touching the sides and bottom of the groove,there will be but little leakage through `the groove,and not enough to aect the speed of the piston movement when being raised by the pump, and the piston being supported by the rack-bar in whatever position it is made toy assume independent of hydraulic pressure it is'not only not aifected by any leakage from the cylinder, but the amount of leakage is greatly reduced.

What I claim to be new is;

l. In ahydraulic base for a chair, the com'- bination with aoylinder adapted to be mounted vertically on a base and having a rack-bar secured vertical to its inner wall, of a tubular piston; for the cylinder having a vertical longitudinal groove in its outer wall to receive the rack-bar as a guide for the vertical movenient of the piston in the` cylinder andiprevent its rotation therein, and having its lower end closed and provided with a port normally closed by a check-,valveg a locking-bar secured to the piston and normally engaging the rack-bar; a pump-plunger for the bore of the piston; means to reciprocate the plunger IOC in the piston; means to disengage the lock- Y ing-bar from the rack-bar by the downward stroke of the plunger; and means to automatically reengage it therewith during the upward stroke of the plunger.

2. In a hydraulic base for a chair, the combination of a cylinder closed at the bottom and adapted to be mounted vertically on'a base; a rack-bar secured vertical to the inner wall of the cylinder; a tubular piston for the IIO cylinder having al,verticalnlongitudinal slot to receive, the rack-bar as a guide for the vertical movement of the piston in the cylinder and prevent its rotation'therein, and having its lower endclosed and provided witha port 1:lormal lyclosed by acheck-Valve; a lockingvbar movably secured to the lower end of the 'piston and held normally in engagement with the rack-bar when the valveis closed,a nd adapted to be disengaged therefrom bythe check-valve when the valve is opened; a pump mechanism mounted on the piston 4having a plunger adapted to reciprocate inthe bore of the pistn forming abarrel for the pump, and to open the check-'valve byits downward stroke and disengage the locking-bar from the rack-bar; andmeans to automatically reengage the locking-bar with the rack-bar during the upward stroke of the plunger.

3. In a hydraulic base for a chair, the combination of a cylinder closed at the bottom and adapted to be mounted vertically on a base; a rack-bar secured vertical to the inner wall of the cylinder; a tubular piston for the cylinder having a vertical longitudinal slot to receive the rack-bar as a guide for the vertical movement of the piston in the cylinder and prevent its rotation therein, and having its lower end closed and provided with a port normally closed by a check-valve; a springpressed locking-bar movably secured to the lower end of the piston and held normally in engagement with the rack-bar by the spring when the valve is closed, and adapted to be disengaged therefrom by the check valve when the valve is opened; and apump mechanism mounted on the piston having a plunger adapted to reciprocate in the. bore of the piston, forming a barrel for the pump, and to open the check valve by its downward stroke and disengage the locking-bar.

4. In a hydraulic base for a chair, the combination of a cylinder closed at the bottom and adapted to be mounted vertically on a base; a rackbar secu red vertical to the inner wall of the cylinder; a tubular piston for the cylinder having a vertical longitudinal slot to receive the rack-bar as a guide for the vertical movement of the piston in the cylinder and prevent its rotation therein, and having its lowerend closed and provided witha port; a pump mechanism mounted on the piston havinga plunger adapted to reciprocatein thebore of the piston, forming a barrel for the pump; aspring-closing check-valve for the port in the piston adapted to be opened bythe downward stroke of the plunger; a spring-pressed locking-bar movably secured to the lower end of the piston and held normally in engagement with the rack-bar by its spring and havinga central aperture with an inclined Wall; and an axial projection from the Valve extending through the aperture of the locking-bar, having an inclined face adapted to engage the incline of the locking-bar and withdraw the bar from its engagement with the rack-bar when the valve is opened by the plunger.

5. In a barber-chair, the combination with a support for the chairbody, rotatably mounted on a hydraulic base provided with a pump mechanism adapted to raise and lower the body of the chair, of locks respectively adapted to automatically lock the chair-body against rotation, and in various reclined positions; a shaft journaled in the support, adapted to be longitudinally shifted in its bearings between fixed limits; arms mounted on the shaft in position to unlock the locks when the shaft is shifted to its limit in one direction, a collar provided with an arm adapted to reciprocate the pump-plunger, loosely mounted on the shaft and adapted to be engaged by a clutch fixed on the shaft, when the shaft is shifted to its opposite limit; a springpressed locking-pin normally engaging the pump-arm collar, and locking it against movement and adapted to be automatically disengaged therefrom by the clutch, when brought into engagement with the collar, and a lever for oscillating the shaft.

(i. In a barber-chair, the combination with a support for the chair body, rotatably mounted on a hydraulic base provided with a pump mechanism adapted to raise and lower the body of the chair, of locks respectively adapted to automatically lock the chair-body against rotation, and in various reclined positions; a shaft journaled in the support, adapted to be longitudinally shifted in its bearings between fixed limits; arms mounted on the shaft in position to unlock the locks when the shaft is shifted to its limit in one direction, a collar provided with an arm adapted to reciprocate the pump-plunger, loosely mounted on the shaft and adapted to be engaged by a clutch fixed on the shaft when the shaft is shifted to its opposite limit; a lever for oscillating the shaft; and a leaf-spring adapted to be secured by one end to the chair-body and having the outer end extending into an elongated slot in the shaft adapted to return the lever to its normal position when oscillated in either dia rection therefrom.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of December, A. D. 1901.

TIMOTHY .L COLLINS. Witnesses:

C. F. MEYERS, I. W. LITTLE.

IOO 

